Image display apparatus and method for controlling the same

ABSTRACT

An image display apparatus includes a display section that displays an image on a display surface, an output section that outputs light, a changer that changes the angle of the light outputted from the output section with respect to the display surface, a position detector that detects a reflected position where the light outputted by the output section is reflected, and a change controller that controls the changer based on the result of the detection performed by the position detector.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/924,758 filed Mar. 19, 2018, which is based on and claims priorityunder 35 U.S.C. 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-058430filed on Mar. 24, 2017 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-002336filed on Jan. 11, 2018. The entire contents of the above applicationsare incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to an image display apparatus and a methodfor controlling the same.

2. Related Art

JP-A-2015-159529 describes what is called an interactive projector thatoutputs planar detection light along a projection surface and detectsthe detection light reflected off a pointing element, such as a pen anda finger, to identify the position of the pointing element.

The projector described in JP-A-2015-159529 projects an image thatassists adjustment of the orientation of the detection light based onthe detection light reflected off a jig placed by a user on theprojection surface. The user adjusts the orientation of the detectionlight while looking at the image.

In the case of the projector described in JP-A-2015-159529, to adjustthe orientation of the detection light, the user needs to place the jigon the projection surface, and the adjustment task is thereforecumbersome.

SUMMARY

An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide a technologythat allows reduction in cumbersomeness of the detection lightorientation adjustment task as compared with the case where the userplaces the jig on the projection surface.

An image display apparatus according to an aspect of the inventionincludes a display section that displays an image on a display surface,an output section that outputs light, a changer that changes an angle ofthe light outputted from the output section with respect to the displaysurface, a position detector that detects a reflected position where thelight outputted by the output section is reflected, and a changecontroller that controls the changer based on a result of the detectionperformed by the position detector.

According to the aspect described above, the angle of the lightoutputted from the output section with respect to the display surface ischanged based on the result of the detection of the reflected position,where the light outputted by the output section is reflected. Therefore,as compared with a case where a user places a jig on the display surfaceand adjusts the orientation of the light outputted by the outputsection, the cumbersomeness of the adjustment task can be reduced.

In the image display apparatus according to the aspect described above,it is desirable that the changer includes a drive section and anadjustment mechanism that changes the angle in accordance with a driveaction of the drive section, and that the change controller controls thedrive action of the drive section based on the result of the detectionperformed by the position detector. According to the aspect describedabove, the angle of the light outputted from the output section withrespect to the display surface can be automatically adjusted bycontrolling the drive action of the drive section.

In the image display apparatus according to the aspect described above,it is desirable that in a case where the position detector does notdetect, as the reflected position, a target position on a side oppositethe output section with respect to the image on the display surface evenafter the change controller controls the drive action of the drivesection, the change controller determines, based on a relationshipbetween an amount of the drive action of the drive section and an amountof movement of the reflected position, a target drive amount that allowsthe reflected position to move to the target position, and the changecontroller drives the drive section by the target drive amount.According to the aspect described above, for example, even in a casewhere low-intensity reflected light does not allow the position detectorto detect the target position as the reflected position even after thechange controller controls the drive action of the drive section, thereflected position can be moved to the target position.

In the image display apparatus according to the aspect described above,it is desirable that in the case where the position detector does notdetect the target position as the reflected position even after thechange controller controls the drive action of the drive section, thechange controller measures the relationship based on the result of thedetection performed by the position detector when the drive section isdriven and determines the target drive amount based on the measuredrelationship. According to the aspect described above, since the targetdrive amount is determined based on the actual relationship between thedrive action of the drive section and the amount of movement of thereflected position, the target drive amount can be determined with highaccuracy.

In the image display apparatus according to the aspect described above,it is desirable that in a case where the position detector detects thereflected position when the drive section is driven by the target driveamount, the change controller controls the drive action of the drivesection until the position detector does not detect the reflectedposition.

There is a conceivable case where a protrusion, for example, a frame, ispresent in an area on the side opposite the output section with respectto the image on the display surface. In this case, under thecircumstance where the reflected position has been moved to the targetposition, the position detector undesirably detects, as the reflectedposition, a position where the light is reflected off the protrusion,and the reflected position could be wrongly recognized as the reflectedposition where the light is reflected off a pointing element.

According to the aspect described above, in the case where the reflectedposition is detected when the drive section is driven by the targetdrive amount, the drive action of the drive section is controlled untilno reflected position is detected, whereby the possibility of the wrongrecognition of the reflected position where the light is reflected offthe protrusion described above as the reflected position where the lightis reflected off the pointing element can be lowered.

In the image display apparatus according to the aspect described above,it is desirable that in a case where the position detector does notdetect, as the reflected position, a target position on a side oppositethe output section with respect to the image on the display surface evenafter the change controller controls the changer, the change controllerincreases an amount of the light outputted from the output section to avalue greater than an amount of the light in the case. According to theaspect described above, for example, in a case where low-intensityreflected light does not allow the position detector to detect thetarget position as the reflected position even after the changecontroller controls the changer, the amount of the light outputted fromthe output section can be increased to a value greater than the amountof the light in the case described above, whereby the reflected positioncan be more readily detected.

It is desirable that the image display apparatus according to the aspectdescribed above further includes an imager that captures an image of thedisplay surface to produce a captured image, that the position detectordetects the reflected position based on the captured image, and that ina case where the position detector does not detect, as the reflectedposition, a target position on a side opposite the output section withrespect to the image on the display surface even after the changecontroller controls the changer, the change controller increasessensitivity of the imager to a value higher than the sensitivity in thecase. According to the aspect described above, for example, in a casewhere low-intensity reflected light does not allow the position detectorto detect the target position as the reflected position even after thechange controller controls the changer, the sensitivity of the imagercan be increased to a value higher than the sensitivity in the casedescribed above, whereby the reflected position can be more readilydetected.

A method for controlling an image display apparatus according to anotheraspect of the invention is a method for controlling an image displayapparatus including a display section that displays an image on adisplay surface, an output section that outputs light, and a changerthat changes an angle of the light outputted from the output sectionwith respect to the display surface, the method including detecting areflected position where the light outputted by the output section isreflected and controlling the changer based on a result of the detectionof the reflected position. According to the aspect described above, ascompared with the case where the user places a jig on the displaysurface and adjusts the orientation of the light outputted by the outputsection, the cumbersomeness of the adjustment task can be reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.

FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows an image display apparatus according to afirst embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the image display apparatus viewed in thedirection indicated by the arrow shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a projector and a light curtain generator.

FIG. 4 shows the directions in which a laser light source unit isadjusted.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for describing the action of the image displayapparatus.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which a light curtain is located in aθ-direction maximum position.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a screen having an area where a protrusion isprovided.

FIG. 8 shows a captured image in a case where a first position ispresent in a projection image.

FIG. 9 shows a captured image in a case where the light curtain islocated in a θ-direction minimum position.

FIG. 10 shows a captured image in a case where the line formed by areflected position is caused to be parallel to a lower end.

FIG. 11 shows a captured image in a case where the reflected position islocated in a target position.

FIG. 12 diagrammatically shows a variation.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment according to the invention will be described below withreference to the drawings. In the drawings, the dimension and scale ofeach portion differ from actual values as appropriate. Further, sincethe embodiment described below is a preferable specific example of theinvention, a variety of technically preferable restrictions are imposedon the embodiment. The scope of the invention is, however, not limitedto the restricted forms unless otherwise particularly stated in thefollowing description that a restriction is imposed on the invention.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows an image display apparatus 1 according toa first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view of the image display apparatus1 viewed in the direction indicated by the arrow P shown in FIG. 1.

The image display apparatus 1 includes a projector 2, a light curtaingenerator 3, and an imager 21. In FIG. 2, the imager 21 is shown ashardware integrated with the projector 2. It is noted that the imager 21may not be integrated with the projector 2 but may communicate with theprojector 2 via a wire or wirelessly.

The projector 2 is installed on a ceiling C and projects and displays aprojection image P1 on a screen SC. The screen SC is an example of adisplay surface. The projection image P1 is an example of an image.

The light curtain generator 3 is installed on the ceiling C, as theprojector 2 is, and outputs planar light L (hereinafter referred to as“light curtain”) that belongs to an infrared wavelength band. The lightcurtain L is used to detect a pointed position P2 located on theprojection image P1 and pointed by a user with a pointing element Q. Thepointing element Q is, for example, the user's finger, a stick, or apen. The light curtain L is not limited to planar light and may insteadbe light having another shape.

The light curtain generator 3 changes the direction in which the lightcurtain L is outputted over at least the range defined by ±θ directionsshown in FIG. 2 under the control of the projector 2 to adjust the angleof the light curtain L with respect to the screen SC.

The imager 21 is, for example, a camera including a CCD (charge coupleddevice) or a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) device, eachof which is an imaging device that converts light collected with anoptical system, such as a lens, into an electric signal. The imager 21is located in a position where the imager 21 can capture an image ofreflected light curtain L. An infrared filter for receiving thereflected light curtain L is attached to the imager 21.

The imager 21 captures the projection image P1 on the screen SC toproduce a captured image and outputs the captured image to the projector2. The captured image shows the light curtain L reflected off thepointing element Q or the light curtain L reflected off the screen SCduring the adjustment of the angle of the light curtain L with respectto the screen SC.

The projector 2 uses the captured image to detect the position where thelight curtain L is reflected. The projector 2 has a normal use mode anda mode in which the angle of the light curtain L is adjusted.

In the normal use mode, the projector 2 displays a cursor or any otherobject in the position where the light curtain L is reflected off thepointing element Q (pointed position P2).

In the mode in which the angle of the light curtain L is adjusted, theprojector 2 controls the light curtain generator 3 based on the positionwhere the light curtain L is reflected off the screen SC to adjust theangle of the light curtain L with respect to the screen SC. The positionwhere the light curtain L is reflected off the screen SC is also simplyreferred to as a “reflected position E.”

FIG. 3 shows the projector 2 and the light curtain generator 3.

The projector 2 includes an input receiver 22, an image receiver 23, astorage 24, a controller 25, a liquid crystal panel drive section 26,and a projection section 27 in addition to the imager 21. The lightcurtain generator 3 includes a laser light source unit 31, which outputsthe light curtain L, and a changer 32, which changes the angle of thelight curtain L with respect to the screen SC.

The input receiver 22 is formed, for example, of a variety of operationbuttons or operation keys or a touch panel for receiving an input or anyother action from the user. The input receiver 22 may instead, forexample, be a remote control that transmits information representing aninput received from the user wirelessly or via a wire. In this case, theprojector 2 includes a receiver that receives the informationtransmitted by the remote control. The remote control includes a varietyof operation buttons or operation keys, a touch panel, or any othercomponent for receiving an input from the user.

The image receiver 23 receives an image signal representing an image viaan image input terminal or any other component and outputs the imagesignal to the controller 25.

The storage 24 is a computer readable recording medium and is formed,for example, of a RAM (random access memory) and a ROM (read onlymemory). The storage 24 may further include an HDD (hard disk drive), anSSD (solid state drive), and other components. The storage 24 stores,for example, a variety of pieces of information and programs processedby the projector 2.

The controller 25 is a computer, such as a CPU (central processingunit). The controller 25 reads and executes the programs stored in thestorage 24 to achieve an image processor 25 a, which processes the imagesignal, a position detector 25 b, which detects the position where thelight curtain L is reflected, and a change controller 25 c, whichcontrols the light curtain generator 3. The entirety or part of theimage processor 25 a, the position detector 25 b, and the changecontroller 25 c may be formed of hardware, such as an FPGA (fieldprogrammable gate array) that is not shown.

The controller 25 switches the mode of the projector 2 between thenormal use mode and the mode in which the angle of the light curtain Lis adjusted in accordance with the user's input received via the inputreceiver 22.

The image processor 25 a converts the image signal received via theimage receiver 23 into image information representing the grayscales ofeach pixel of a liquid crystal panel 27 a provided in the projectionsection 27 on an RGB (red, green, and blue) color basis.

The liquid crystal panel drive section 26 applies drive voltageaccording to the image information inputted from the image processor 25a to each pixel of the liquid crystal panel 27 a provided in theprojection section 27.

The projection section 27 is an example of a display section. Theprojection section 27 projects and displays the projection image P1 onthe screen SC. The screen SC is not part of the display section. Theprojection section 27 includes a light source that is not shown and areflector that is not shown but reflects light emitted from the lightsource toward the liquid crystal panel 27 a. The liquid crystal panel 27a is an example of a light modulator. The pixels of the liquid crystalpanel 27 a modulate the light reflected off the reflector in accordancewith the drive voltage applied from the liquid crystal panel drivesection 26 to produce light representing an image according to the imageinformation. The projection section 27 then projects the image lightproduced by the liquid crystal panel 27 a as the projection image P1 onthe screen SC via a projection lens that is not shown. The light sourceis, for example, a discharge-type light source lamp formed of anultrahigh-pressure mercury lamp, a metal halide lamp, or any other lamp,but the light source is not limited to a lamp and may instead be an LED(light emitting diode) light source, a laser light source, or any othersolid-state light source.

The position detector 25 b detects the position where the light curtainL is reflected based on the captured image containing the light curtainL reflected off the pointing element Q or the light curtain L reflectedoff the screen SC.

The change controller 25 c controls the changer 32 based on the resultof the detection performed by the position detector 25 b to adjust theangle of the light curtain L with respect to the screen SC. In thepresent embodiment, the change controller 25 c controls the changer 32in such a way that the position E where the light curtain L is reflectedoff the screen SC coincides with a target position D (see FIG. 1).

The target position D is located in an area R on the side opposite thelight curtain generator 3 with respect to the projection image P1displayed on the screen SC. In the present embodiment, the targetposition D is a position in the area R and in the vicinity of theprojection image P1 (position separate from projection image P1 bydistance ranging from 1 to 10 mm, for example). The distance between thetarget position D and the projection image P1 does not necessarily rangefrom 1 to 10 mm and can be changed as appropriate. In the followingdescription, a portion that forms the projection image P1 and is incontact with the area R is referred to as a “lower end L1,” and aportion that forms the projection image P1 and faces away from the lowerend L1 is referred to as an “upper end L2.”

The change controller 25 c controls the changer 32 by using a controlsignal S, which controls the rotation produced by motors 32 d and 32 e(see FIG. 3) incorporated in the changer 32. The control signal Srepresents the number of revolutions at which the motor 32 d runs andthe direction of the revolutions and the number of revolutions at whichthe motor 32 e runs and the direction of the revolutions.

The laser light source unit 31 is, for example, a unit in which acollimator lens, a Powell lens, and other optical system members areattached to one or more LDs (laser diodes) and outputs the light curtainL. The laser light source unit 31 is an example of an output section.The output section is not limited to the laser light source unit 31 andcan be changed as appropriate. The output section may, for example, bean LED.

The changer 32 includes a motor controller 32 a, motor drivers 32 b and32 c, the motors 32 d and 32 e, and adjustment mechanisms 32 f and 32 g.The motors 32 d and 32 e are each a stepper motor.

The motor controller 32 a controls the motor drivers 32 b and 32 c inaccordance with the control signal S from the change controller 25 c torun the motors 32 d and 32 e. The motors 32 d and 32 e are each anexample of a drive section, and the rotation produced by the motors 32 dand 32 e is an example of a drive action of the drive section.

The adjustment mechanism 32 f rotates the laser light source unit 31around an axis of rotation A shown in FIG. 4 in accordance with therotation produced by the motor 32 d to change the angle of the lightcurtain L with respect to the screen SC. When the laser light sourceunit 31 rotates around the axis of rotation A, the orientation of thelight curtain L is changed over the range defined by ±θ directions shownin FIG. 2. The +θ direction is the direction in which the light curtainL moves away from the screen SC, and the −θ direction is the directionin which the light curtain L approaches the screen SC.

The adjustment mechanism 32 g rotates the laser light source unit 31around an axis of rotation B shown in FIG. 4 in accordance with therotation produced by the motor 32 e to change the angle of the lightcurtain L with respect to the screen SC. The axis of rotation B is soset as to intersect the axis of rotation A, for example, so set as to beperpendicular thereto.

The action of the image display apparatus 1 will next be described.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for describing the action in the mode in which theangle of the light curtain L is adjusted. In the following description,the position of the light curtain L having moved to the limit in the +θdirection is referred to as a “θ-direction maximum position,” and theposition of the light curtain L having moved to the limit in the −θdirection is referred to as a “θ-direction minimum position.” Further,moving the light curtain L in the +θ direction is also referred to as“lifting the light curtain L,” and moving the light curtain L in the −θdirection is also referred to as “lowering the light curtain L.”

When the projector 2 operates in the mode in which the angle of thelight curtain L is adjusted, the change controller 25 c first outputs tothe motor controller 32 a the control signal S that causes the motor 32d to move the light curtain L to the θ-direction maximum position. Themotor controller 32 a controls the motor driver 32 b in accordance withthe control signal S to move the light curtain L to the θ-directionmaximum position (step S101). FIG. 6 shows the state in which the lightcurtain L is located in the θ-direction maximum position.

The change controller 25 c subsequently outputs to the motor controller32 a the control signal S that causes the motor 32 d to lower the lightcurtain L. The motor controller 32 a starts lowering the light curtain Lin accordance with the control signal S (step S102). The changecontroller 25 c further starts causing the imager 21 to repeatedlycapture images of the screen SC (step S103).

When the light curtain L is lowered and the screen SC is irradiated withthe light curtain L, the light curtain L is reflected (irregularlyreflected) off the screen SC. Part of the light curtain L reflected offthe screen SC is therefore imaged by the imager 21.

In this process, the greater the distance between the position E, wherethe light curtain L is reflected, and the imager 21, the lower theintensity of the reflected light curtain L received by the imager 21.Further, the intensity of the reflected light curtain L changes inaccordance with the reflection characteristic of the screen SC.Therefore, in a case where the reflected position E is located in thevicinity of the lower end L1 or in the area R, a situation in which thecaptured image shows no reflected light curtain L occurs.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, in a case where a protrusion (frame, forexample) H is provided in the area R, and in the situation in which thelight curtain L has been lowered, the protrusion H is first irradiatedwith the light curtain L, and the screen SC is then irradiated with thelight curtain L.

The angle of incidence of the light curtain L incident on a surface Ithat forms the protrusion H and faces the light curtain generator 3differs from the angle of incidence of the light curtain L incident onthe screen SC, and the possibility of the light curtain L reflected offthe protrusion H (surface I) and entering the imager 21 is higher thanthe possibility of the light curtain L reflected off the screen SC andentering the imager 21. Therefore, in a certain situation, the imager 21first produces a captured image showing the light reflected off theprotrusion H, then produces a captured image showing no reflected lightproduced in the area R or in the vicinity of the lower end L1, and thenproduces a captured image showing the light reflected off the screen SCin an area shifted from the lower end L1 toward the upper end L2.

The position detector 25 b keeps detecting the reflected position Ebased on the captured images repeatedly produced by the imager 21 duringthe period for which the light curtain L is lowered (step S104). Theposition detector 25 b outputs the result of the detection of thereflected position E to the change controller 25 c.

The change controller 25 c evaluates based on the result of thedetection of the reflected position E whether or not a situation inwhich the reflected position E coincides with the target position Dduring the period for which the light curtain L is lowered has occurred(hereinafter referred to as “coincidence situation”) (step S105). It isnoted that the change controller 25 c grasps the target position D, theposition of the projection image P1, and the position of the area R inadvance.

For example, the projection section 27 projects an image of a patternspecified in advance (entirely white image, for example) on the screenSC in advance. The imager 21 captures an image of the pattern projectedon the screen SC. The change controller 25 c acquires the result of theimaging performed by the imager 21 via the position detector 25 b. Thechange controller 25 c analyzes the result of the imaging performed bythe imager 21 to grasp the position of the projection image P1corresponding to the white area. The change controller 25 c subsequentlygrasps the position of the area R on the side opposite the light curtaingenerator 3 with respect to the projection image P1. The changecontroller 25 c subsequently grasps as the target position D theposition that is present in the area R and separate from the projectionimage P1 by a distance of 5 mm.

Instead, the input receiver 22 may receive inputs representing thetarget position D, the position of the projection image P1, and theposition of the area R from the user in advance, and the changecontroller 25 c may grasp the target position D, the position of theprojection image P1, and the position of the area R in accordance withthe inputs received by the input receiver 22.

In a case where the coincidence situation occurs (YES in step S105), thechange controller 25 c outputs to the motor controller 32 a the controlsignal S that causes the motors 32 d and 32 e to move the reflectedposition E to the target position D. The motor controller 32 a controlsthe motor drivers 32 b and 32 c in accordance with the control signal Sto move the reflected position E to the target position D (step S106).

The change controller 25 c may carry out step S106 by causing the motors32 d and 32 e to stop running when the coincidence situation occursduring the period for which the light curtain L is lowered.

On the other hand, in a case where the reflected position E detected forthe first time after the light curtain L starts lowering (hereinafterreferred to as “first position E1”) is present in the projection imageP1, as shown, for example, in FIG. 8, the change controller 25 cdetermines that no coincidence situation has occurred (NO in step S105).FIG. 8 shows an example of a captured image U1 in the case where thefirst position E1 is present in the projection image P1.

In a case where the coincidence situation has not occurred, the changecontroller 25 c outputs to the motor controller 32 a the control signalS that causes the motor 32 d to move the light curtain L to theθ-direction minimum position. The motor controller 32 a controls themotor driver 32 b in accordance with the control signal S to move thelight curtain L to the θ-direction minimum position (step S107). FIG. 9shows an example of a captured image U2 in the case where the lightcurtain L is located in the θ-direction minimum position.

Subsequently, in a case where the line formed by the reflected positionE is not parallel to the lower end L1 (NO in step S108), as shown, forexample, in FIG. 9, the change controller 25 c outputs to the motorcontroller 32 a the control signal S that runs the motor 32 e in such away that the line formed by the reflected position E becomes parallel tothe lower end L1. The motor controller 32 a controls the motor driver 32c in accordance with the control signal S to cause the line formed bythe reflected position E to be parallel to the lower end L1 (step S109).FIG. 10 shows an example of a captured image U3 in the case where theline formed by the reflected position E is caused to be parallel to thelower end L1. In a case where the line formed by the reflected positionE is parallel to the lower end L1 at the end of step S107 (YES in stepS108), step S109 is skipped.

The change controller 25 c subsequently outputs to the motor controller32 a the control signal S that causes the motor 32 d to lift the lightcurtain L. The motor controller 32 a controls the motor driver 32 b inaccordance with the control signal S to lift the light curtain L (stepS110). The control signal S used in this process is a control signalthat lifts the light curtain L in such a way that the resultant amountof movement M of the reflected position E is smaller than the amount ofmovement to the reflected position E shown in FIG. 8 (first positionE1). The reflected position E moved in accordance with the controlsignal S is therefore shown in a captured image.

The change controller 25 c subsequently measures the relationshipbetween the number of revolutions G produced by the motor 32 d in stepS110 and the amount of movement M of the reflected position E resultingfrom the number of revolutions G (step S111). For example, the changecontroller 25 c identifies the number of revolutions G from the controlsignal S used in step S110 and identifies the amount of movement M fromthe results of the detection performed by the position detector 25 bbefore and after step S111.

As an example of the relationship between the number of revolutions Gand the amount of movement M, for example, in a case where when themotor 32 d produces 32 revolutions, the amount of movement M of thereflected position E is half the distance from the upper end L2 to thelower end L1, the number of revolutions G is “32 revolutions” and theamount of movement M is “half the distance from the upper end L2 to thelower end L1.” The relationship between the number of revolutions G andthe amount of movement M is not limited to the relationship describedabove. Further, the number of revolutions is not limited to an integerand may, for example, be a fraction or may be expressed by the number ofsteps by which the motor 32 d runs. The number of revolutions producedby the motor 32 d is an example of the amount of drive action of thedrive section.

The change controller 25 c subsequently determines, based on therelationship between the number of revolutions G and the amount ofmovement M, a target number of revolutions T, which allows the reflectedposition E to be moved to the target position D (step S112). The targetnumber of revolutions T is an example of a target amount of driveaction.

Let now a distance F be the distance from the current reflected positionE to the target position D, and the change controller 25 c determinesthe target number of revolutions T, for example, by using the followingarithmetic equation: Target number of revolutions T=(distance F×numberof revolutions G)/(amount of movement M).

The change controller 25 c may calculate the target number ofrevolutions by using an arithmetic equation different from thearithmetic equation described above. For example, the change controller25 c may calculate the target number of revolutions T by using thefollowing arithmetic equation: Target number of revolutionsT=coefficient J×(distance F×number of revolutions G)/(amount of movementM). The coefficient J is a constant greater than 1.

The change controller 25 c subsequently outputs to the motor controller32 a the control signal S that causes the motor 32 d to produce thetarget number of revolutions T. The motor controller 32 a controls themotor driver 32 b in accordance with the control signal S to cause themotor 32 d to produce the target number of revolutions T (step S113).The reflected position E therefore moves to the target position D. FIG.11 shows a captured image U4 in the case where the reflected position Eis located in the target position D.

In a case where the protrusion H (see FIG. 7) is provided in thevicinity of the target position D, the position detector 25 b isundesirably likely to detect the reflected position E even though nopointing element Q is present.

To avoid the situation described above, in the case where the positiondetector 25 b has detected the reflected position E when step S113 iscompleted (YES in step S114), the change controller 25 c outputs to themotor controller 32 a the control signal S that causes the motor 32 d tolift the light curtain L until no reflected position E is detected. Themotor controller 32 a controls the motor driver 32 b in accordance withthe control signal S to lift the light curtain L until no reflectedposition E is detected (step S115). In a case where the positiondetector 25 b has detected no reflected position E when step S113 iscompleted, step S115 is skipped.

According to the present embodiment, the angle of the light curtain Lwith respect to the screen SC is changed based on the reflected positionE, where the light curtain L is reflected. Therefore, as compared withthe case where the user places the jig on the screen SC and manuallyadjusts the orientation of the light curtain L, the cumbersomeness ofthe adjustment task can therefore be reduced.

Variations

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and avariety of variations, for example, those that will be described below,are conceivable. Further, one or more variations arbitrarily selectedfrom the following aspects of variations can be combined with oneanother as appropriate.

Variation 1

In a case where the position detector 25 b does not detect the targetposition D as the reflected position E (coincidence situation does notoccur) even after the position detector 25 b controls the changer 32,the change controller 25 c may control the laser light source unit 31 toincrease the amount of light curtain L to a value greater than theamount of light curtain L in the case described above. For example, inthe case where the coincidence situation has not occurred (NO in stepS105), the change controller 25 c increases the amount of light curtainL to a value greater than the amount of light curtain L in the casedescribed above and returns to the process in step S101.

According to Variation 1, for example, in a case where low-intensityreflected light does not allow the position detector 25 b to detect thetarget position D as the reflected position E, the amount of lightcurtain L can be increased to a value greater than the amount of lightcurtain L in the case described above. The reflected light can thereforebe more intense, whereby the reflected position E is more readilydetected.

Variation 2

In the case where the position detector 25 b does not detect the targetposition D as the reflected position E even after the position detector25 b controls the changer 32, the sensitivity of the imager 21 may beincreased to a value higher than the sensitivity in the case describedabove. For example, in the case where the coincidence situation has notoccurred (NO in step S105), the change controller 25 c increases thesensitivity of the imager 21 to a value higher than the sensitivity inthe case described above by prolonging the exposure period (lightreception period) for which the imager 21 performs imaging to a valuelonger than the exposure period in the case described above. The changecontroller 25 c then returns to the process in step S101.

According to Variation 2, for example, in a case where low-intensityreflected light does not allow the position detector 25 b to detect thetarget position D as the reflected position E, the sensitivity of theimager 21 can be increased. The reflected position is therefore morereadily shown in a captured image, whereby the reflected position E ismore readily detected.

Variation 3

Step S109 may be carried out after step S113 is completed.

Variation 4

The change controller 25 c may directly control the motor drivers 32 band 32 c, as shown in FIG. 12.

Variation 5

The projector 2, the light curtain generator 3, and the imager 21 may beso configured that two or more thereof are integrated with each otherinto one-piece hardware.

Variation 6

The display surface is not limited to the screen SC and can be changedas appropriate. For example, the display surface may, for example, be aflat surface of an object, such as a wall or the upper surface of atable.

Variation 7

The projector 2 is not necessarily installed on the ceiling C and may beinstalled, for example, on a table or a wall. Further, the light curtaingenerator 3 is not necessarily installed in a position above the screenSC and may be installed, for example, in a position below the screen SCor at the right or left end of the screen SC.

Variation 8

The wavelength band to which the light curtain L belongs may instead,for example, be a visible wavelength band.

Variation 9

The drive section is not limited to a motor and can be any of a varietyof other actuators.

Variation 10

The liquid crystal panel 27 a used as the light modulator is formed, forexample, of three transmissive or reflective liquid crystal panels. Thelight modulator may instead, for example, be based on one liquid crystalpanel combined with a color wheel, three digital mirror devices (DMDs),or one digital mirror device combined with a color wheel. Further, aconfiguration including no liquid crystal panel or DMD but capable ofmodulating light emitted from a light source can be employed as thelight modulator.

Variation 11

A projector is used as a display apparatus, but the display apparatus isnot limited to a projector and can be changed as appropriate. Forexample, the display apparatus may be a direct-view display (such asliquid crystal display, organic EL (electro luminescence) display,plasma display, and CRT (cathode ray tube) display).

Variation 12

In the embodiment described above, the change controller 25 c moves thelight curtain L to the θ-direction maximum position (step S101) and thenmoves the light curtain L downward (step S102), the position detector 25b keeps detecting the reflected position E based on captured imagesrepeatedly produced by the imager 21 (step S104), and the changecontroller 25 c evaluates whether or not the situation in which thereflected position E coincides with the target position D during theperiod for which the light curtain L is lowered has occurred (stepS105). Instead, after the light curtain L may be moved to theθ-direction minimum position in step S101, the light curtain L may bemoved upward in step S102, the position detector 25 b may keep detectingthe reflected position E in step S104, and whether or not the situationin which the reflected position E coincides with the target position Dhas occurred may be evaluated in step S105.

The entire disclosures of Japanese patent application nos. JP2017-058430 filed on Mar. 24, 2017 and JP 2018-002336 filed on Jan. 11,2018 are expressly incorporated by reference herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for controlling an image displayapparatus including an output section that outputs light and a changerthat changes an angle of the light outputted from the output sectionwith respect to a display surface, the method comprising: outputting thelight; changing the angle of the light outputted from the output sectionwith respect to the display surface; detecting a reflected positionwhere the light outputted by the output section is reflected; andstopping changing the angle of the light based on a result of thedetecting.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the changerincludes a drive section and an adjustment mechanism that changes theangle in accordance with a drive action of the drive section, and themethod further comprises stopping the drive action of the drive sectionbased on the result of the detecting.
 3. The method according to claim2, further comprising when a target position is not detected as thereflected position, determining, based on a relationship between anamount of the drive action of the drive section and an amount ofmovement of the reflected position, a target drive amount that allowsthe reflected position to move to the target position, and driving thedrive section by the target drive amount.
 4. The method according toclaim 3, further comprising when the target position is not detected asthe reflected position, measuring the relationship based on the resultof the detecting when the drive section is driven and determining thetarget drive amount based on the measured relationship.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising when a target position is notdetected as the reflected position, increasing an amount of the lightoutputted from the output section.
 6. The method according to claim 1,wherein the image display apparatus further includes an imager thatcaptures an image of the display surface to produce a captured image,and the method further comprises detecting the reflected position basedon the captured image, and when a target position is not detected as thereflected position, increasing sensitivity of the imager.
 7. A methodfor controlling an image display apparatus including an output sectionthat outputs light and a changer that changes an angle of the lightoutputted from the output section with respect to a display surface, themethod comprising: in an adjustment mode in which the angle of the lightis adjusted, outputting the light; changing the angle of the lightoutputted from the output section with respect to the display surface;detecting a first reflected position where the light outputted by theoutput section is reflected; and stopping changing the angle of thelight based on a result of the detecting, and in a normal use mode,outputting the light at the angle stopped in the adjustment mode; anddetecting a second reflected position where the light outputted by theoutput section is reflected off a pointing element.
 8. An image displayapparatus comprising: an output section that outputs light; a positiondetector that detects a reflected position where the light outputted bythe output section is reflected; and a changer that changes an angle ofthe light outputted from the output section with respect to a displaysurface based on a result of the detection performed by the positiondetector.